If the Israeli public was really determined to lower the cost of living in this country, it would line up in front of the Prime Minister’s Office and demonstrate against apartment prices.

We have not witnessed such an impressive show of wise consumership since the cottage cheese boycott two years ago. Droves of Tel Avivians lined up last week to purchase a cup of coffee for the bargain price of NIS 5 (a little less than $1.50) at the new

Until everyone has a good family home, there is no, "health"
budget" , and that includes in the United States. Take the sand
out of the sea, and any rock or any other naturally locally occurring
raw materials, is not only for the rich just like the land. This would
make everybody richer anyway.

As long as property prices are set by the free market how can any
government seriously change anything? Largely thanks to olim with money
who are now starting to come and investors wanting to buy to rent and
foreigners wanting holiday homes in Israel ( whose money we need ) the
fastest growing property market is the more lucrative luxury buildings.
Even without the luxury buildings going up all over the place we are in
the middle of a property bubble. Land is expensive so developers have to
pass that onto the buyers. People who do own what was once an affordable
property will take advantage of the high prices and sell the once
affordable property for a high price rather than a more affordable price
like they originally bought it for. Investors who own properties they
rent if they know they can charge a high rent they will, why not thats
their business? Cities like Tel Aviv will NEVER be affordable to the
average Israeli because it is Israels version of New York or London
where no matter how much you build the property you build prices will
always go for a premium because so many people want to live there. It is
the most expensive city in the Middle East and the 17th most expensive
city in the world. You want to seriously make property affordable then
the world. Only solution is to change the entire economic system making
government responsible for ALL property. Tell developers what kind of
properties they must build, if there is a shortage of affordable homes
they must build those rather than luxury and government must tell
developers & individuals just how much profit they are all owed to
make and investors how much they are allowed to rent it for. Obviously
these are not practical solutions but as long as its the free market
that sets the prices then buyers will have to pay market rate and people
renting will have to pay higher rents. Thats not the fault of this
government or any other. From opposition its easy to promises miracle
solutions but once in government the promised miracles don't happen
because now they face with the same problems. Protesting and demanding
change doesn't make it any easier for government to bring about bring
down prices anymore than than farmers can make it rain when they moan
there is not enough water for their crops.

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